Photo caption: PHILIPPINE SEA (July 11, 2024) An F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 121 prepares to land on the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) while conducting routine operations on July 11. America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, was built by HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jeadan Andre)
July 12, 2024
HII’s Weekly News Digest is compiled every Friday by the Corporate Communications team to summarize and highlight news stories of significance to the company.
US Submarine Will Deploy With UUV Capabilities: Naval News reported on Sunday that the U.S. Navy will deploy a Virginia-class submarine later this year that employs a torpedo-tube launch-and-recovery uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) capability for the first time. USS Delaware (SSN 791) will deploy to the European theatre of operations with a HII-built REMUS 600 UUV that can be launched and recovered from the sub’s torpedo tube. USS Delaware was built at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division and commissioned by the U.S. Navy in April 2022. Vice Adm. Rob Gaucher, the U.S. Navy’s Commander Submarine Forces, said the fully integrated SSN-based UUV capability is a key development priority for the service. The National Interest reported on Sunday that the REMUS 600 is expected to enhance the capabilities of the submarine because the UUV can operate at greater depths than human divers, including on the seabed.
Navy Identifies Unplanned Turbine Issue Creating RCOH Delays: USNI News reported on Monday that damage to the steam turbines that power Nimitz-class aircraft carriers have significantly contributed to delays in the mid-life refueling and complex overhauls of USS George Washington (CVN 73) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). According to Naval Sea Systems Command, “significant damage” to the generators aboard both carriers added unplanned work that was discovered after both carriers arrived at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division for maintenance. Buried in the hull, the turbines are responsible for taking steam produced from the heat of the atomic reactors and converting it into both mechanical energies to drive the aircraft carrier and electricity for the ship’s systems. The turbines, originally installed on the ships more than 30 years ago, were designed to last the life of the carrier. In a statement to USNI News, HII said “We are applying lessons learned from both George Washington and John C. Stennis to what we are doing to prepare USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) for RCOH.”
USS Boxer (LHD 4) Is Underway After Repairs: USNI News reported on Friday, July 5, that amphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD 4) is back underway and preparing for sea trials after repairs were made to the ship’s rudder. The Wasp-class amphib was built at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division and commissioned by the U.S. Navy in 1995. USS Boxer has been sidelined since April at Pier 2 at Naval Station San Diego, Calif., following the damage to the starboard rudder. The return of the ship to service allows the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit to continue its deployment, although the Navy has not yet provided details on what that will look like. The Times of San Diego reported on July 5 that other ships in USS Boxer’s ready group continued with their planned deployment and are currently participating in the giant RIMPAC exercise. USS Boxer is one of the Navy’s nine “mini carriers” designed to support amphibious landings. It carries helicopters, Osprey tiltrotors and F-35B stealth fighters as well 1,700 Marines and landing craft.
City Of Newport News Highlights Shipbuilding Contributions: WYDaily reported on Thursday that Newport News Tourism has opened an interactive exhibit in City Hall that explores the history and work of HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division and its impact on the city. The exhibit provides a historical timeline of the shipyard and its contributions to the city, and reveals the deep-rooted connections between shipyard founder Collis P. Huntington, the Huntington family, and the city of Newport News. Plans are for the exhibit to eventually move to the soon-to-be-opened James River Strand, being constructed just north of HII’s VASCIC headquarters in downtown Newport News. WTKR reported on Monday that the city is also catering to shipbuilders and Navy personnel with its Yard District” along 23rd Street in downtown. Restaurants, breweries and other businesses are opening to help improve the quality of life for people who work and live in the surrounding area. Meanwhile, the editorial board for the Virginian-Pilot/Daily Press urged leaders from across Virginia on Thursday to do more to ensure the shipbuilding industry is well supported.
| Social Media Highlight Of The Week
Posted Monday on Kari Wilkinson’s Facebook page:
“As the sun rises over our shipyard, we’re reminded of our mission: world class people building and supporting world class ships in service of national security and global freedom. Every day I am grateful we strive to uphold excellence in our craftsmanship and quality. Every sunrise over the shipyard is a daily reminder of our commitment: building ships of strength and precision. Our purpose shines bright because of our shipbuilders.” |
Lawmakers Pushing Navy To Develop Autonomous Systems: Inside Defense reported on Wednesday that the Senate version of the fiscal year 2025 defense policy bill directs the Navy to invest in developing “dual-modality” autonomous systems, authorizing an $18 million addition to the service’s research and development budget to experiment with up to seven uncrewed vehicles. Designed to operate both underwater and on the ocean’s surface, dual-modality vehicles could be useful for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, according to the bill’s committee report, which suggests the technology may be understudied and underdeveloped due to the Navy’s organizational structure. The additional $18 million authorized by the bill would boost the Navy’s “air/ocean tactical applications” budget line, which encompasses multiple programs including meteorological and oceanographic sensor and modeling systems. Though the Navy requested $41.8 million for this budget line in FY-25, dual-modality autonomous systems are not mentioned in the budget document. Separately, Senate authorizers instructed the Navy to conduct a “competitive demonstration” for its Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle program using non-developmental items from commercial or foreign partner sources to further inform program requirements.
HII’s Weekly News Digest is produced by HII’s Corporate Communications team and posted to Homeport every Friday.
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